Spring has arrived and it’s brought a whole new batch of reads we’re dying to dig into.
Authors from across the globe have some books we’re ready to add to our kindles and bookshelves. They’re masterful works about love, independence, mortality, and most importantly Beyoncé.
Take advantage of daylight savings time by curling up on a park bench with one of these eight books.
01
Before We Were Wicked by Eric Jerome Dickey
Eric Jerome Dickey’s latest is a passion-filled prequel that puts a new spin on the familiar conflicts that have made him a household name. Join Dickey on the journey of finding out just where one encounters the line they can't uncross before fully submitting to the underworld.
02
Fumbled by Alexa Martin
An independent woman -- who has created a humble, but fulfilling life where she is in control -- is tempted by unrequited love and the excitingly excessive lifestyle afforded by professional sports when she comes across her high school sweetheart in a surprising location. Now a superstar, he offers her a love that would strip her of her identity while offering something there's no real playbook for.
03
Lead from the Outside by Stacey Abrams
Abrams places the intractable faith and fortitude she showed on the campaign trail on the page. This guide to finding a path to leadership in the face of unequal playing fields is perfect for the person who wants to thrive in an organization that doesn’t prioritize inclusion.
04
Opposite of Always by Justin A. Reynolds
Black love meets time travel? Yes please! This tender YA story allows readers to consider what they would be willing to risk for a second chance at a love that was stolen away too soon.
05
Prince of Monkeys by Nnamdi Ehirim
Nigerian teenager Ihechi’s bonds with the friends who grew up speculating about spirituality, sex, politics, and sports are severed when his panic-stricken mother sends him to live with his uncle following a time of political upheaval. But shortly before he is fully nestled into the folds of the country’s elite, he is reminded of who he used to be, and forced to consider the consequences of his success by the friends he once held dear.
06
Queen Bey: A Celebration of the Power and Creativity of Beyoncé Knowles-Carter by Veronica Chambers
This essay collection features people like Kid Fury, Melissa Harris-Perry, and Fatima Robinson in dialogue with themselves, each other, and the world about what Beyoncé’s artists has contributed to our planet’s collective subconscious. From straight up gushing prose, to thoughtful critiques, to recollections of personal encounters with the one and only Mrs. Knowles-Carter, each section of this carefully curated book highlights a different area she has mastered and its impact on all of us.
07
Queenie by Candice Carty-Williams
The mainstream media might be dubbing this novel’s protagonist as the next Bridget Jones, but the comparison is the least appealing thing about this intersectional story of self-discovery. The story of how 25-year-old Queenie Jenkins balances her Jamaican and British heritages while navigating professional inequalities and romantic dilemmas is Black and brilliant all on its own.
08
The Hundred Wells of Salaga Ayesha Harruna Attah
Set in pre-colonial Ghana, this novel follows two women witnessing the slave trade reach its deplorable heights at the end of the 19th century. While one is snatched away from the comfort of her family and thrust into circumstances that take her from an idealistic girl to a spirited young woman, the other is a chief’s daughter who tries to find her place in his court. This story explores under-examined aspects of slavery including the infighting exploited to promote the barbaric practice.
